Cutting board with knife sharpener

ABSTRACT

A cutting board includes a knife sharpener secured to the board. In a preferred form, the cutting board is formed from polyethylene and includes an over-molded polyethylene housing that retains a pair of ceramic rods that are accessible within a notch in the housing. A knife drawn through the notch in the housing makes contact with the rods and is sharpened.

PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/459,658, filed Apr. 1, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to cutting boards and knife sharpeners, including a cutting board having an integral knife sharpener.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Knives and cutting boards are perhaps the most frequently used products in food preparation. Though knives and cutting boards are separate items, they are used together. Over time, knives become dull and must be sharpened. The best way to maintain a sharp knife blade is to hone the edges at frequent intervals. Maintaining a sharp edge requires less time and effort than restoring a cutting edge that has become dull.

[0004] There are many existing knife sharpeners on the market with a wide range of quality, cost, and effectiveness. One problem with existing sharpeners is that they are stand-alone devices that are usually stored in drawers, cupboards or knife blocks. Because they are stored separately, the sharpeners are often forgotten or misplaced and not used. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved knife sharpener that is readily available each time a cutting board is used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred cutting board with knife sharpener;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a front view of a preferred cutting board with knife sharpener;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a top view of a preferred cutting board with knife sharpener;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a preferred cutting board with knife sharpener;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a knife being sharpened with the knife sharpener on the preferred cutting board with knife sharpener;

[0011]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred bottom cap and ceramic rods; and

[0012]FIG. 7 is a perspective bottom view of a preferred cutting board, indicating holes to receive the ceramic rods and a groove to receive the bottom cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] The preferred embodiment of the cutting board having an integrated knife sharpener consists of five principal parts, shown in the various drawings: the cutting board 10, sharpener housing 20, two sharpening rods 30, 40, and a bottom cover 50.

[0014] The cutting board 10 is preferably made from white polyethylene and measures 12.5 inches×12.5 inches×0.5 inches. The surface of the board is lightly textured to add grip. Any other suitable material may be used for the cutting board 10, such as wood, laminate, or solid surface materials like Corian.® Likewise, though the preferred cutting board is square it may alternatively be any shape such as rectangular, oval, or others. It may also be larger or smaller, consistent with this invention.

[0015] The sharpener housing 20 is also constructed from polyethylene. It may alternatively be constructed from other materials such as nylon, other plastics, wood, or metal. The sharpener housing is over-molded onto the cutting board, forming the cutting board 10 first, then adding the material to form the sharpener housing 20 so that it is integrally joined to form a single device. The sharpener housing may alternatively be formed separately and then secured to the cutting board, for example by gluing, heat bonding, or other means.

[0016] In the preferred form, the sharpener housing is molded in dark gray polyethylene to visibly contrast with the white cutting board and to draw attention to the knife sharpener. Other colors may be used to provide the desired contrast. Similarly, the sharpener housing may be the same color as the cutting board 10, or may be white while the cutting board is formed in a contrasting color.

[0017] After forming the cutting board 10 and sharpener housing 20, a notch 22 is formed in the top of the sharpener housing 20. The notch is generally V-shaped, forming an approximately 40 degree angle at the corner of the cutting board. At the bottom of the sharpener housing, (see FIG. 7) two holes 70, 72 are drilled to a depth that extends into but preferably not fully through the board. The holes are drilled along lines such that the holes form an angle that is approximately the same as that of the V-shaped sharpening notch. Each of the ceramic sharpening rods 30, 40 are formed from black ceramic (though other colors are also suitable) and are press-fit into the holes to form the sharpening surface. While ceramic is a preferred material for the sharpening rods, other sharpening materials may also be used.

[0018] A bottom cover 50 (see FIG. 6) is formed from a dark gray polyethylene disk. As with the cutting board and sharpener housing, other materials and colors may be used. A corresponding circular disk-shaped groove 80 (see FIG. 7) is formed in the bottom of the sharpener housing 20, either during the molding process or by removing material after molding. The cover 50 is then press-fit into the bottom side of the sharpener housing to conceal the ends of the ceramic sharpening rods and permanently secure them within the holes. The cap preferably includes a number of detents 52 that mate with corresponding slots at the bottom of the cap-receiving groove.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 5, a knife 60 is shown being sharpened. In order to sharpen the knife, the position the board 10 so the sharpener is located near the edge of the countertop and secure the cutting board with one hand while sharpening. Gently set the knife blade into the groove formed between the sharpening rods and pull it through the sharpener and away from your body, in the direction of the arrow. The blade should be held vertically and steadily while pulling it through the sharpener, so that the blade will not wobble side to side while sharpening.

[0020] The knife sharpener of the present invention provides many advantages. The knife sharpener is attached to the cutting board making it easy and convenient to use the sharpener at frequent intervals. The sharpener can be used at any time, even when foods are already on the board. The sharpener is positioned at the comer of the cutting board making it equally accessible for right and left handed users.

[0021] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. 

1. A cutting board, comprising a cutting board surface, the surface having a central work area and a peripheral edge; and a knife sharpener secured to the cutting board.
 2. The cutting board of claim 1, wherein the knife sharpener comprises a pair of ceramic rods secured within the cutting board.
 3. The cutting board of claim 1, further comprising a sharpener housing mounted within a portion of the cutting board, the sharpener housing having an upper surface continuous with the cutting board surface.
 4. The cutting board of claim 3, wherein the sharpener housing further comprises a notch.
 5. The cutting board housing of claim 4, wherein the sharpener housing further comprises a first side and a second side, the notch being located on the first side, and further wherein the second side comprises a first bore and a second bore, each of the bores receiving a respective one of a first ceramic rod and a second ceramic rod.
 6. The cutting board of claim 5, wherein the cutting board surface defines a plane and the first cutting rod comprises a central axis, the central axis of the first cutting rod when mounted in the first bore being at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the plane of the cutting board surface.
 7. The cutting board of claim 6, further comprising a groove on the second side of the sharpener housing, the groove receiving a cap for retaining the first cutting rod and the second cutting rod.
 8. The cutting board of claim 1 wherein the cutting board is generally rectangular in shape and the knife sharpener is mounted in a first comer of the cutting board.
 9. The cutting board of claim 1, wherein the cutting board is formed from polyethylene.
 10. The cutting board of claim 1, wherein the cutting board is formed from a solid surface material.
 11. The cutting board of claim 1, wherein the cutting board and knife sharpener are integrally formed.
 12. The cutting board of claim 1, wherein the cutting board is mounted along the peripheral edge.
 13. A cutting board, comprising: a generally planar board, the board having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an edge; a notch formed within the edge of the board; and a knife sharpening element secured within the board, whereby a knife drawn through the notch will contact the knife sharpening element.
 14. The cutting board of claim 13, wherein the knife sharpening element comprises a ceramic rod.
 15. The cutting board of claim 13, wherein the board is formed from polyethylene.
 16. The cutting board of claim 13, further comprising a knife sharpener housing, wherein the sharpener housing is formed in a first color and the board is formed in a second color.
 17. The cutting board of claim 13, wherein the board is formed from a solid surface material.
 18. A cutting board, comprising: a cutting board surface, the surface having a central work area and a peripheral edge; and a means for sharpening a knife secured to the cutting board.
 19. The cutting board of claim 18, wherein the sharpening means is integrally formed with the cutting board.
 20. The cutting board of claim 18, wherein the sharpening means is permanently secured to the cutting board. 